Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-01-30
THE MYSTERIES OF MoaMoNisM.
The Sights Seen By . Converted jewish
Rabbi-Plaoes of worship.

A"o SsButs oSen W Souvcrteu SeWhs"
Rabbi-Pisoes of Worship.
A recent visitor Of prominence to this
city. is r. Wad-el-Ward, q converted
Jewish rabbi from Palestine. lie is per-
haps so years of age and is a member Of
the tribe Of Levi. He has more Of an
Arabic cast Of features than of Hebrew,
has q swarthy complexion and piercing
black eyes, while his figure is slender and
wiry.
"Since my conversion to the Christian
faith, sixteen years ago" said he in per-
feet English to a reporter yesterday, 81
have Travelled over nearly every portion
Of the globe, preaching the cause Of
Christ and learning the traits, customs,
and languages of all nations. On my
way to California l stopped at Salt Lake
City, where I remained about six weeks
as the guest of some Mormon apostles
whom had met in Jerusalem, my native
city. visited all of the important places
In Mormondom, stopped with the people
themselves, and learned all could. I
must say that found many things which
were obnoxious to me, more especially
the latter-day revelations Of Joseph Smith
concerning the descent of the first apos-
ties from Joseph. However, the people
certainly acted in very hospitable and
courteous manner toward me. When !
went there l made up my mind to put
aside all prejudice, and not allow any
thing had ever heard against them to
interfere in any way with my judgment
of their character and customs. re-
solved to see and decide for myself. On
two occasions met President Taylor and
John Q. Cannon, who are still in hiding
from the minions Of the law, as you
know. found them courteous and will
ing to give me all the information which
] desired.
"Something about the templesi Oh,
yes, certainly. They are invariably built
facing east and west. In entering one Of
them you come into a corridor, or outer
chamber. where you are requested 10 re-
move your shoes. You are then led into
another chamber on the right, called the
men S department. Directly opposite is the
women's department. Connected with
these rooms are small bathrooms, where
you are instructed 10 bathe yourself, for
you are not allowed to carry the dust and
dirt of the outer world into the sacred pre-.
cincts Of the temple. You are then taken
into the laver room. which is an oblong
square in shape. Here you see huge
bronze font, weighing nearly four tons
and measuring about fifteen feet long by
seven feet wide. II is supported on
twelve bronze oxen in life size, and alto
gether is a magnificent work Of art. In
this room you are baptized, either for
yourself or for some dead relative or
friend A Mormon, you know can he
baptized every day, If he likes, for the
good Of some dear one in the spirit
world. In the marriage scenes however.
the baptism is for the contracting parties
only. Adjoining the laver room is second
bathroom Of small proportions, where the
amounting ceremony takes place. Your
clothing. OF course. is removed, and,
commencing with the crown Of you
head. every part and member of your
body is anointed with sacred OIL. musi
admit that this was not after the usual
Hebrew manner. and was naturally very
distasteful to me.
AFTER the candidate has bcen anointed
the endowment robcs are put on linn.
These consist Of a combination suit Of
undershirt and drawers, made in one
piece. which are TO be worn by the can.
didate dag and night. and are never 10 In
taken OIL except 10 be rcplac,d imme.
diately by fresh suit II the same kind
White caps are also furnished for the
male candidates, which make them lool;
more like French pastry cooks than any.
thing else. In addition to these a big
apron of white linen. silk. or woolen ma.
tcrial, with a green fig leaf in front.
The women wear the same kind Of robes,
with plain white overdresses and apron:
Of smaller size, but of the same shape,
design and material as those worn by
the men. When the candidates have
been completely costumed after the man.
ner have described they are led into
still another room, which is called para.
disc, and frankly confess that have
never been in any room or garden that
80 nearly rcsembled my ideas of real
paradise as that one did. Magnificent
oil paintings Of flowers, birds, trees, and
every form of animal and vegetable life
were to he seen everywhere. They wen
works Of art, too, that would not disgrace
the walls OF any academy or salon. Here
the ceremony Of the expulsion from the
Garden cf Eden occurs, after which The
candidates are conducted TO another
room called the world, which is also
handsomely decorated and furnished.
have not the time, and doubt If you
have the space, to give full description
of all these ceremonies. which may bt
characterized as very solemn rigmaroles
When all that l have told you has beer
gone through with the party begins to as
cend, and is taken 10 the room Of tho
dead, perfect gem Of architecture, and
finer and more elaborate than any Of IN,
chapels in the TagMahal or the Alham
bra. In this room occurs the ceremony
OF the endowment for eternity, or for th,
dead. When this is over you are led Il
the last room. the holy Of holies. wher,
you are given the grips and sigis Of th,
Aaronic and Melchisedec pricsthoois
This rite 10 me was most distastcful. -
San Francisco Chronicle.